The WK&T
MARCH/APRIL 2018
CONNECTION Published for the members of West Kentucky & Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative
BEAUTY OF THE BIRDS Visit the Tennessee National Wildlife Preserve
TECH TIPS: SMART HOME
BIRTHDAY CELL-EBRATION
Your guide for understanding home automation
Happy 45th to the modern mobile phone
INDUSTRY NEWS
Rural Connections BY SHIRLEY BLOOMFIELD, CEO NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association
Rural youth are the future
Create the next great app! FRS seeking students to take the App Challenge
A
t NTCA and the Foundation for Rural Service, we believe an investment in our rural youth is an investment in the future of rural America. That’s why we are committed to making those kinds of investments. Each year, our partners at FRS award $100,000 worth of scholarships to assist rural students in attending college or technical school. FRS also coordinates a trip each year for rural youth to visit Washington, D.C., and learn about the way our government works. I am thrilled about the launch of the FRS Rural Youth App Challenge and excited to see the bright ideas that come from the minds of our rural youth. I believe deeply in the importance of these programs, but for NTCA members like your local provider, support for our rural youth goes much deeper. Your broadband provider works hard to bring a reliable internet connection to students’ homes — and often their schools — to get the education they need. They make sure teachers can connect to the resources and research needed to provide quality instruction. And once these young men and women graduate, it will be your broadband provider whose service enables them to apply for jobs, start a business or work remotely. I’m proud of the investments NTCA, FRS and our member telcos have made and will continue to make in the future of rural America.
2 | March/April 2018
A
pps play a big role in making life easier. They are often the fastest and easiest way to access social media, check the weather forecast, pay bills, listen to music, shop and access just about anything imaginable on the internet. That’s why the Foundation for Rural Service created the FRS Rural Youth App Challenge. Students will develop a concept for a mobile app that addresses a problem or improves a process in their rural community, or anywhere in rural America, says Jessica Golden, executive director of the Foundation for Rural Service. “Youth engagement is a huge part of what we do,” she says. The FRS is the charitable arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association and has been involved in scholarships, youth tours in Washington, D.C., and many other programs geared toward engaging the youth of America, Golden says. It’s all part of the emphasis on the importance of broadband, which is becoming a vital thread in the American fabric. “We want all our youth to see themselves as a gamechanger and a voice of the rural communities,” she says. “We want them to think outside the box.”
The App Challenge will judge students based on how well-researched and wellpresented the app is. While the idea can be similar to an existing app, it must be an original idea. The program launched Jan. 23, and the deadline for submissions for the contest is April 20. Students in grades 7-12 are eligible. Either a single student or groups with as many as five participants may enter. A parent of at least one student in the group must be a member of a cooperative that is an NTCA member. Winners will be announced in mid-tolate May. The winning team will receive $1,000 in gift cards and Codecademy scholarships. The first 10 student applicants with complete applications will also receive a subscription to Codecademy-PRO, worth about $84.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Go to frs.org, send an email inquiry to foundation@frs.org, or call 703-351-2026.
Hey
telemarketers:
DO NOT CALL!
T
he Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission established a National Do Not Call Registry. Joining this registry can drastically reduce the number of telemarketing calls you receive. JUST THE FACTS ABOUT DO NOT CALL: • Once you’ve registered, telemarketers have 31 days to stop calling your number. • Register as many as three non-business telephone numbers. You can also register cellphone numbers — there is not a separate registry for cellphones. • Your number will remain on the list permanently unless you disconnect the number or you choose to remove it. • Some businesses are exempt from the Do Not Call Registry and may still be able to call your number. These include
It’s Easy! Add your number to the
Do Not Call Registry
political organizations, charities, telephone surveyors and businesses with whom you have an existing relationship. Strict Federal Trade Commission rules make it illegal for telemarketers to do any of the following, regardless of whether or not your number is listed on the National Do Not Call Registry: • Call before 8 a.m. • Call after 9 p.m. • Misrepresent what is being offered • Threaten, intimidate or harass you • Call again after you’ve asked them not to
Register online at
www.donotcall.gov or call 888-382-1222. For TTY, call 866-290-4236. You must call from the telephone number you wish to register.
Attention local business owners: Make sure you follow the Do Not Call rules No matter if you’re a one-person shop or a beloved company, local business owners should remember that National Do Not Call Registry rules and regulations apply to you. After all, you don’t want to upset a loyal customer, or frustrate potential new customers, with unwanted phone calls. If you are a company, individual or organization that places telemarketing calls, it is very important that you familiarize yourself with the operations of the National Do Not Call Registry. Unless you fall under one of the established exceptions, such as telemarketing by charitable organizations or for prior business relationships, you may not make telemarketing calls to numbers included in the National Do Not Call Registry. For information regarding National Do Not Call regulations, visit the National Do Not Call Registry at www.telemarketing. donotcall.gov. You can find the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission rules governing telemarketing and telephone solicitation at 47 C.F.R. § 64.1200 and 16 C.F.R. Part 310, respectively. OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION: The Do Not Call initiative, regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), requires telephone service providers to notify customers of the National Do Not Call rules and regulations.
March/April 2018 | 3
FROM THE CEO The WK&T
“
Institutions serve people, not the other way around. So as a servant-leader, I measure my success by the success of those whom I’m serving.”
—Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari
CONNECTION MARCH/APRIL 2018
VOL. 10, NO. 2
The WK&T Connection is published by West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative, © 2018. It is distributed without charge to all members of the cooperative.
Signs of progress
I
f you’ve listened to many interviews with Coach John Calipari or read his book, you know one of his fundamental mottos is that “improvement is a process.”
While this is certainly true for Big Blue during tournament season, it’s also very true for your local telco. When dealing with hundreds of miles of fiber optics, millions of dollars of investments across thousands of acres in Tennessee and Kentucky, improving broadband access to people in our region has been and continues to be a process. In some ways, that process began back at our founding when local farmers and merchants banded together to build a cooperative phone network. It has continued over the decades as we upgraded our offerings: dropping party lines, at one time adding TREVOR BONNSTETTER dial-up service, introducing security and TV service, and now Chief Executive Officer plowing fiber optic lines. At times, that process has been tedious, like when we are completing environmental reviews or submitting regulatory reports. At other times, it’s been thrilling, like when WK&T pursued and ultimately received the largest combination of grants and loans in the nation to build out our fiber network. The process of improving has continued in Tennessee as we work with the City of Martin to assist with their water meter network and expanded fiber to local residents. I’m excited to announce that a similar expansion was approved in nearby Dresden, Tennessee, in January. I'm optimistic that other such opportunities will present themselves over time. Currently, the most visible part of our process of improving is at the WK&T Tech Park. We will break ground on our new warehouse there this spring and eventually consolidate our operations to the campus in order to operate more efficiently. The park provides the opportunity for WK&T’s network to serve as an economic engine to attract jobs to our region. When I look at these improvements and upgrades, I think of another quote from Coach Cal. He once said: “Institutions serve people, not the other way around. So as a servantleader, I measure my success by the success of those whom I’m serving.” At WK&T, this is the way we judge our success. We are only successful in our mission as a cooperative if we are helping the people in our service area reach their goals. I firmly believe that the work we do enhances and improves the lives of our members. In the end, all of our goals are set and decisions made with that in mind.
is your cooperative serving West Kentucky and Northwest Tennessee across more than 13,000 access lines. The company is dedicated to using technology to keep its members connected through local and long-distance calling, high-speed Internet, digital television and beyond.
Send address corrections to: WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative P.O. Box 649 • 237 N 8th Street Mayfield, KY 42066 Telephone: 877-954-8748 www.mywkt.net BOARD OF TRUSTEES Tony Goodman President Ricky Littleton Vice President Beverly Taylor Secretary/Treasurer Bob Barnett Jeff Davis Jerry Holloway Jerry Stephenson Joe Thompson
Produced for WK&T by:
On the Cover: The Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge in Springville is home to more than 300 species of birds, including the bald eagle. See story Page 12. Photo courtesy of Clayton Ferrell.
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Welcome to WK&T! Eric Taylor is WK&T’s newest outside sales representative. With a decade of sales experience and a customer service attitude, he’s a perfect fit for this team. He’s also local to the area, having attended South Fulton High School and the University of Tennessee at Martin. You may see Taylor out and about, offering products and services to local homes and businesses. WK&T employs a door-to-door sales force, and Taylor enjoys meeting new people daily. He loves striking up a conversation to find common ground with potential customers. “It’s really all about finding out what the household or business needs and matching them up with the services that will serve those needs,” says Taylor. Taylor has always considered himself a team player with a focus on customerdriven care. "I will do whatever I can to make WK&T better," he says of his new position. He's also thankful to have some weekends off, something that he didn't get often in his previous job. That’s more time he can spend with his wife, Sarah; daughter, Allie, 12; son,
Eric Taylor Cooper, 8; and their family dog, an overgrown labradoodle named Scooter. There’s also more time for him to enjoy his favorite hobbies: golfing and watching college football. Another place you might see him is on the field or court coaching youth football, basketball and T-ball. You can reach Eric Taylor at his direct number, 270-856-1886, or email him at etaylor.wk@wk.net for help with new WK&T products and services. Welcome to the team!
Happy Easter weekend from WK&T
The WK&T offices will close Friday, March 30, in observance of Good Friday. Please take advantage of 24/7 account access through SmartHub during this time.
WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative
More news WK&T is proud to announce that the popular One America News Network is now available on all Expanded TV packages. You can catch this station in standard definition on channel 171 or high definition on channel 852 (for those customers with high definition access). Enjoy!
Battery backup power information Your home phone service is provided with WK&T’s Flite fiber optic network and requires electric power to operate. To avoid disruption of home voice service during a power outage — and to maintain the ability to connect to 911 emergency services — WK&T provides a battery backup power supply. Our backup batteries are expected to last up to eight hours on standby power. This means the backup battery should give you approximately six hours of voice service. If you feel that is not enough time, you may extend your standby battery by purchasing additional batteries. Please call WK&T’s customer service at 877-954-8748 for more information. NOTE: Although the battery backup can support WK&T internet and/or video services for a short time, the backup is provided to support voice services only.
March/April 2018 | 5
TRAVEL
TAKING IT LOW AND SLOW
ON THE TRAIL FOR
BY ANNE BRALY
O
ther regions of the country have certainly tried to imitate, but none have been able to duplicate the barbecue found in states across the South. Some restaurants have different sauces, while others are known by the type of wood they use for smoking. But all are known for the magical spell they put on the grill. Just follow the smoke from state to state on this road trip around the South to get your ’que on.
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Owensboro, Kentucky — Moonlite Bar-B-Que Inn 2840 W. Parrish Ave. It once said, “Bahhh,” but your taste buds will say, “Ahhh,” when you bite into the barbecued mutton that put Moonlite on the map. Order it by the plate, on a sandwich or by the pound, and don’t forget an order of the famous Kentucky burgoo. There’s a barbecue buffet serving lunch and dinner and a dine-in menu with traditional pork or beef barbecue, catfish and chicken.
Memphis, Tennessee — Central BBQ 147 E. Butler Ave., 2249 Central Ave. and 4375 Summer Ave. Memphis is in the heart of the barbecue belt, so it’s hard to visit and not find a good pit. Central, though, is consistently ranked in the top three and always comes home from competitions with a trophy. So when you want to pig out on ribs, pork, chicken, turkey, brisket, sausage and even bologna, Central can’t be beat. No sauce meets the meat until the latter comes out of the smoker, and even then, not until you order. The spice mixture has been a deeply held secret since the first Central opened in 2002. Now, there are three locations, all of which have been featured in national publications, and it’s a favorite stop for TV food personalities, too.
3139 N. State St. This joint puts a spin on barbecue with its barbecue chicken tacos and pork belly corn dogs, while also offering traditional favorites like pulled pork, smoked brisket and barbecued chicken. It gives a nod to other regional cuisines, too. There are Asian smoked wings and fried boudin balls, a Louisiana favorite served with beer mustard and housemade breadand-butter pickles. The menu may sound outlandish, but the food is a hometown favorite that’s picked up awards, including best barbecue in Mississippi by firstwefeast.com.
7115 Lone Oak Road Southern Living named Carolina BBQ as the best barbecue joint in the state, a reputation built on finger-licking ’cue: St. Louis-style ribs, hickorysmoked chicken and turkey, brisket and pulled pork. Brunswick stew is made from scratch, and you won’t shut up about the chocolate hush puppies. The red slaw is known as some of the best in the business, and you’re welcome to take home a bottle of the barbecue sauce for yourself.
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Spartanburg, South Carolina — Carolina BBQ and More
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Jackson, Mississippi — Pig & Pint
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3605 Thompson Bridge Road When you envision a barbecue shack, the building housing The Hickory Pig is what comes to mind. From the stack of wood out front, to the giant pig in the parking lot, to the ramshackle building, it’s a place with pure Southern smalltown charm. And the food? Just bite into a fork-tender rib and you’ll see why it’s a favorite in the north Georgia area for barbecue. The Brunswick stew is not to be missed.
Hickory P
ig BBQ.
Gainesville, Georgia — The Hickory Pig
urtesy of B
2702 Main St. In a state known for its barbecue, Pecan Lodge was named one of the top four barbecue joints in the world — that’s a pretty big deal. But owners Justin and Diane Fourton say they weren’t out to set the world on fire, just the seasoned woods they put in the pit to smoke their mouthwatering brisket, among other meats. It’s well worth the hour-long wait you might encounter. Order the brisket on a sandwich or by the pound, or have it piled into a salt-crusted sweet potato with cheese, spicy sour cream, butter and onions. It all smacks of Southern comfort.
Photo co
Dallas, Texas — Pecan Lodge
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1715 Sixth Ave. S. and 2520 Danville Road SW Cross the Alabama border and ask for a good barbecue place and chances are you’ll be directed to the town on the banks of the Tennessee River just south of the Tennessee border where Big Bob started cranking out the ’cue back in 1925. Gibson created his empire from smoked chicken smothered in white sauce, a recipe that’s appeared in numerous publications, as well as in bottles sold online and in the restaurant. The menu expanded over the years to include every kind of smoked meat you may crave — pork butts, turkey breasts, whole chickens, brisket and ribs. And don’t forget a slice of peanut butter pie.
of Pig &
2516 Cantrell Road; 12111 W. Markham St.; and 5107 Warden Road, North Little Rock It’s no small feat to garner a win in the esteemed Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, but Whole Hog has done it three times with two second-place wins for its ribs and a first-place for its whole hog. What began as a food truck in a parking lot in Little Rock has now spread across the nation, but its heart belongs in Little Rock, where you can order a simple pulled pork sandwich or get a taste of it all with the Ultimate Platter, which includes pulled pork, smoked beef, smoked chicken, ribs, three sides and dinner rolls. Hungry yet?
ourtesy
Decatur, Alabama — Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que
Photo c
Little Rock, Arkansas — Whole Hog Cafe
March/April 2018 | 7
TECH TIPS
Building a smarter home, one gadget at a time
M
illions of Americans wake up to the sound of their digital assistant, such as an Amazon Echo or Google Home. For many, having one of these assistants is the first step in transforming a normal house into a smart home — a place where everything between your front door and your backyard can be automated or controlled remotely.
For many, having one of these assistants is the first step in transforming a normal house into a smart home — a place where everything between your front door and your backyard can be automated or controlled remotely. Here’s a quick look at some of the smart technology available and how it can make your life easier, especially if you’re armed with a high-speed broadband connection. HUBS: While most of the smart gadgets can be individually controlled through apps on your smartphone, you should have a central hub to fully take advantage of them. There is a futuristic feel to controlling your home via voice commands — through an Echo or Google Home — but there are also hubs, such as the Samsung SmartThings Hub or Wink Hub 2, that unify access to your devices in a single, easy-to-use app. One thing to watch out for is a series of competing communication standards, including Bluetooth LE, Lutron ClearConnect, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave and ZigBee. While most hubs support several standards, make sure whatever smart devices you buy are compatible with your hub. THERMOSTATS: Heating and cooling accounts for about half of monthly energy bills, 8 | March/April 2018
so a smart thermostat can help you save money. The popular Nest learns your preferences in about a week and programs itself around them. If you have hot or cold spots in your home, the Ecobee 4 can use sensors — it includes one, others sold separately — to more accurately determine temperature throughout the house. LIGHTS: There are a wide variety of options for lighting your home. You can choose to start small, maybe with a lamp connected to a smart outlet, like the Belkin WeMo Mini. Go with a smart light switch, like the Lutron Caseta, which not only automatically dims your lights but can also randomly turn them on and off while you’re on vacation. You can even buy smart light bulbs, like the Philips Hue, which let you control both the intensity of the light and its color. LOCKS: A smart lock can be as simple as one that communicates with a phone app through a Bluetooth connection. Or, options like the August Smart Lock can respond to voice commands and be linked to other smart devices. For example, the lock could activate your lights or a smart camera when the door opens, or the door might unlock when your smart smoke detector goes off.
Hi, I’m Matt Garrett. I work at the WK&T Technology Store in Mayfield. In this column, in each issue, you’ll learn about technology and read simple tips to get the most out of your electronics. For more tips or help with your devices, please come see me at the store. I’m always happy to help!
DEVICE OF THE MONTH Nest Protect smoke and CO detector When the Nest Protect smoke and CO detector identifies a problem, it can alert you by phone, including identifying the room causing the alert. It knows the difference between steam and smoke — or when it’s the toast that’s burning. It also connects with other smart devices and detects carbon monoxide. The suggested retail price is $119, with discounts on multipack purchases.
WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative
Sold!
Fiber network increases home values
BY JEN CALHOUN
O
n a recent scouting expedition for prospective home buyers, real estate agent Jaime Abell was given a directive: If the house doesn’t have access to high-speed internet, forget it. “That was their main thing,” says Abell, who works at Century 21 Service Realty in Paducah. “They had to have good internet.” It’s not an isolated incident, either, experts say. Fast internet, and fiber broadband in particular, is the newest desirable feature in the real estate world alongside master suites and open-concept floorplans. A 2015 study by the Fiber to the Home Council Americas found that access to a fiber network could increase home values by 3.1 percent. For many homes, that’s an increase in value similar to that of adding a fireplace or other amenities.
FIBER IS MONEY Gains in home values as a result of fiber internet is good news for WK&T members, says Michael Lee, the cooperative’s marketing and sales manager. “We’ve currently got over 10,000 homes and businesses connected to fiber broadband with a speed that is just not capable
Jaime Abell is a realtor at Century 21 Realty in Paducah.
WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative
Abell lists the availability of highspeed fiber internet as a selling feature on homes she lists.
How does fiber drive up home values? More people are starting to depend on fast internet speeds for work and pleasure. Whether they work from home or enjoy gaming and streaming movies and television shows, fiber broadband is starting to become a necessity for many looking to relocate. Statistics from Fiber to the Home Council Americas show how fiber has increased home values:
without fiber technology,” Lee says. “It’s certainly improved the desirability of people wanting to move into our area. It’s also made more businesses want to relocate here. Fiber has made a firm impact on our community, and we hope that will continue.” For example, Ingram’s Water and Air Equipment relocated from a larger city to a new facility in the WK&T service region. The move was made largely because of the fiber network, Lee says.
STAYING CONNECTED THE COOPERATIVE WAY Other businesses and homeowners are expected to be attracted to the area because of the fast broadband network as well. “I recently spoke with a man who sold his house and is moving 10 miles down the road into our service area just so he could have fiber internet,” Lee says. “He uses it for classes, and the entire family wanted it for entertainment and other reasons. They couldn’t do all they needed to do without faster broadband.”
Homes with fiber availability have a transaction price that is about 3.1 percent more than similar homes in neighborhoods where fiber is not available. Access to a gigabit connection could increase home values by more than 3 percent, which is similar to adding other amenities home buyers seek. Fiber broadband increases condo purchase prices by 2.8 percent. Fiber broadband increases rental values by 8 percent. People who live in multifamily housing units, such as apartments and condos, say fast and reliable internet service is the single most important amenity, more important than cable TV, a pool, security and workout facilities.
March/April 2018 | 9
Mobile phones turn 45
Wireline technology makes cellphone popularity possible BY PATRICK SMITH
W
hile you’ve likely heard of Steve Jobs, the influential entrepreneur and one-time leader of Apple, you probably don’t know of Martin Cooper, a Motorola employee who made the first cellular phone call on April 3, 1973. Jobs’ achievements with the iPhone, along with much of Apple’s recent success with the device, wouldn’t be possible without Cooper. When Cooper stood in midtown Manhattan and placed a call 45 years ago, he forever changed how we communicate. Known as the father of modern cellphones, Cooper successfully connected to Bell Labs headquarters in New Jersey, calling on what would become the world’s first commercial cellphone. Much like Jobs’ success was dependent on Cooper, today’s cellular technology is dependent on a wired copper
10 | March/April 2018
and fiber optic backbone to connect wireless communications. Wireless technology needs a hardwired foundation to operate. Without wireline technology, cellphones would neither be able to make calls nor use internet data.
THE WIRELINE BACKBONE When it comes to cellphones and the wireline technology they need to operate, think of the concept like the wireless router in your home. A wired connection runs from the wall to your router so it can broadcast and receive a signal. The same principle applies to the fact that cellular phones need a wired connection to operate. Copper and fiber lines running overhead and underground play a crucial role in carrying signals between more than 300,000 cell sites across the country. When you use your cellphone to make
a call or access the internet, your connection spends part of its journey on the same network that makes landline calls and internet connections possible.
RURAL TELCOS PLAY A VITAL ROLE Telecommunications companies provide an essential service by keeping cellular callers connected in rural areas. Many rural telco providers supply wireline copper or fiber service to large cellular towers. These lines keep people connected when they are making cellular calls in rural regions, whether they’re traveling through the area or residing there.
3G SPEEDS AND BEYOND As fiber optic connections become more common, they also help to lay the groundwork for faster cellular speeds. The blazing-fast speed of fiber not only means faster upload
and download speeds for area homes and businesses, but it also means faster cellular data speeds. Mobile data service — 3G, 4G and 4G LTE — relies on fast connections from telecommunications providers to cell towers, so users can have dependable mobile access to the internet. While a release date has not been set, developers are working to create a new 5G technology, which could offer data speeds as fast as 10 Gbps. Peak 4G LTE speeds top out at about 50 Mbps today, making 5G potentially about 200 times faster. And while it’s impossible to predict the future and the developments that newer, faster cellular technology will bring, it’s clear that progress isn’t possible without a strong base of copper and fiber wireline technology to connect our calls and provide highspeed mobile data.
TECHNOLOGY IN THE GOLDEN YEARS
Gadgets for the golden years
L
os Angeles Times Publisher Ross Levinsohn once said, “The speed at which technology evolves affects everyone; we repeatedly hear that constant innovation is overwhelming for consumers, who struggle to keep pace.” I couldn’t agree more with that statement. It seems like as soon as I learn a new piece of software, or how to use the latest technology gadget, it becomes outdated and replaced with a newer version. If it gets overwhelming for me — a professional who works with technology daily — I can just imagine how overwhelming it is for someone who considers themselves non-techie. I want to take a bit of the guesswork out of researching technology and point out a few gadgets that I think are good starter items for those adopters in their golden years.
your eyes. If you have trouble reading small print, you can make the font larger so that it is easier to read, even without your reading glasses.
Tablet: Amazon Fire
Gadget for a Non-Techie: Pix-Star Wi-Fi Picture Frame
The Amazon Fire is a great starter tablet for a couple of reasons. It is reasonably priced, coming in under $100. It’s great for watching movies or TV shows, checking email, playing games and, of course, reading books. The Fire even has a blue light filter that makes reading on the tablet less strenuous on
If you are looking for a great gift for a parent or a grandparent, this is a good one. The picture frame is connected to Wi-Fi and has an email address. The system makes it very easy to add updated photos to the frame. Family and friends can simply email photos directly to the frame.
Medical Tech Gadget: MedMinder Pill Dispenser Never worry about remembering to take your medicine at the right time each day. MedMinder can help you remember your meds by calling, texting or emailing you. Multiple features and differing models ensure the right style for different needs.
Voice Control Gadget: Amazon Echo Show
remember. My favorite feature of this device is the ability to “drop in” on loved ones to see how they are doing. Just by answering a call with your voice, you can see and hear the people you care about the most. The best way to learn how to use the latest in tech gadgets is to give them a try. You never know; you may find you enjoy using them!
Once the Amazon Echo Show is set up, you can get the information you want easier. Ask the built-in helper, Alexa, for the temperature, score of the game, or a fact you can’t
CARISSA SWENSON IS A TRAINING AND EDUCATION CONSULTANT FOR CONSORTIA CONSULTING.
To learn more about the gadgets mentioned in the article, visit the following websites: gg www.amazon.com/fire
gg www.pix-star.com
gg www.amazon.com/echoshow
gg www.medminder.com
March/April 2018 | 11
WHERE HISTORY AND NATURE MEET Photo courtesy of Melodie Cunningham.
Photo courtesy of Clayton Ferrell.
The Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge is a resource for all
Fish are the centerpiece of the bald eagle’s diet. The TWR is home to as many as 10 bald eagle nests. BY JOHN CLAYTON
T
he melodies at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge come from the many species of songbirds that visit or call it home, including the Le Conte’s sparrow, red-winged blackbird and cedar waxwing. The expansive refuge, which covers more than 50,000 acres about 100 miles west of Nashville, is considered an irreplaceable monument to nature by conservationists. “There are hundreds of species of birds and waterfowl and fish and other water animals,” says Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge Ranger Joan Howe. “It’s an incredible resource for education. We have students come from all over the state every year. We are also a resource for photographers and bird-watchers, really anybody who loves nature.”
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BREAKING NEW GROUND The refuge was established in 1945, making it one of the oldest such refuges in the country. It offers a diversity of habitats for some 306 species of birds, 51 species of mammals, 89 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 144 species of fish. The TNWR’s 51,000 acres include 65 river miles flowing into and around Kentucky Lake. It is divided into three units — Big Sandy, Duck River and Busseltown. It is open to the public from March until November, with a long list of educational
Bluebirds are one of more than 300 species of birds found at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge.
and conservation-related events during its season. But TNWR’s primary function as a refuge occurs when the weather turns cold and migratory waterfowl fly in for food and rest along their route. Each January, the refuge opens for a couple of days for its Wings of Winter Birding Festival, drawing enthusiasts from across the country. The refuge habitats include agricultural crops, vegetated wetlands, mudflats, shrub and scrub areas, as well as forest lands. The resulting combination of agricultural WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative
“When I’m out on my boat on Kentucky Lake, I like to see nature. I like to see eagles and such. The large houses and all the to-do doesn’t excite me like nature does.”
Photo courtesy of Clayton Ferrell.
–Kimi Fitzhugh, president of the Friends of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
grains, natural foods and protected areas sustains waterfowl through the winter.
A CULTURAL TREASURE The Big Sandy Unit includes a unique part of Tennessee state history. Mt. Zion Baptist Church was part of the Old 23rd District of Henry County and was the only building to survive when the Tennessee Valley Authority flooded the valley to create Kentucky Lake in 1944. Families were moved out of the area, but Mt. Zion remained and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Then, each spring, the doors open to the TNWR’s recently established visitors center. Thousands of people annually tour the refuge, taking in part of a long list of “Discovery” events, including hummingbird banding and bluebird and wild turkey programs. The visitors center is open all year, but the sanctuary area of the refuge is closed from mid-November to mid-March. “It’s natural. No one is building on it. It’s preserved for wildlife in its natural state. To me, that means a lot,” says Kimi Fitzhugh, president of the Friends of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative
“When I’m out on my boat on Kentucky Lake, I like to see nature. I like to see eagles and such. The large houses and all the to-do doesn’t excite me like nature does.”
COMMUNITY SUPPORT Fitzhugh leads a team of about 170 volunteers who give time and resources to help the TNWR function. “Everybody is facing shortages with funding, so what the Friends of the TNWR do is very important to us,” Howe says. The nonprofit organization staffs the visitors center at Big Sandy, owns and operates the Blue Heron Bookstore at the visitors center, and lends a hand in everything from routine maintenance to grant writing. “We’ve grown so much in four years since the visitors center opened,” Fitzhugh says. “Interest has grown with everything going on there, so it’s keeping us all hopping.” With growth has come additional expenses, so Fitzhugh says her organization is always looking for volunteers as well as corporate benefactors to help defray costs and assist at the refuge. Fitzhugh says her group is heavily involved in the edu-
cational aspect of the refuge. Some volunteers serve as tour guides and make presentations, and the group supports students’ visits to the TNWR. “We assist with more than 60 field trips for schools and provide busing for all of them,” Fitzhugh says. “Last year, we brought more than 3,000 kids through the center. The Friends provide all the educational supplies and all the funds for busing.” Howe says the nonprofit is vital to the refuge, and the volunteers and professional staff work well together to help stretch the TNWR’s limited resources. The TNWR operates under the auspices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “There’s not enough staff to go around, so we help where we can,” Fitzhugh says. “We do mowing and maintenance, and we do a lot of public awareness. We’ll come talk to any civic groups or corporations. We are in dire need of annual corporate donors who would like to support environmental education. We’d love to have them out to the refuge or to go see them and talk to them.” The Friends of the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge can be found online on Facebook and at www.friendstnwr.org.
THE TENNESSEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 2018 DISCOVERY SERIES • March 17 — Wild Turkey Program at Refuge Visitors Center, 1 p.m. • April 21 — Back to the Old 23rd at Mt. Zion Church • May 19 — Kid’s Fishing Derby at Puryear, Tenn., 10 a.m. to noon • May 26 — Amphibian Fun and Fairy Houses at Refuge Visitors Center, 1 p.m. • June 9 — Family Fishing Derby at Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, 7-10 a.m. • June 9 — LBL Nature Station Live Animal Program at Refuge Visitors Center, 1 p.m. • July 14 — Canoeing-Kayaking at Duck River Bottoms, 9 a.m. to noon • July 21 — Canoeing-Kayaking at Cross Creeks, 9 a.m. to noon • Aug. 11 — Hummingbird Banding at Refuge Visitors Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Aug. 25 — Hummingbird Banding at Cross Creeks NWR, 8 a.m. to noon • Sept. 8 — Mighty Mussel Mania at Duck River Bottoms, 1 p.m. • Sept. 22 — Monarch Butterflies/ Pollinator event at Refuge Visitors Center, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Oct. 13 — Astronomy Night at the Refuge Visitors Center, 6:30 p.m. “We had our first fundraiser this past year in 2017 — it was a paint night, and it was very successful,” she says. “That’s something we’ll be looking into heavily in the years to come.” March/April 2018 | 13
SOUTHERN KITCHENS
Baking for spring
with Jason Smith
S
pringtime baking means shedding the heavy ingredients of winter: “All that butter and those heavy chocolates,” says Jason Smith. Smith, a resident of Grayson, Kentucky, once a cafeteria manager at Isonville Elementary and also a florist and caterer, was the 2017 Food Network Star. Just months before that win, he won Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship,” followed by a victory on “Holiday Baking: Adults vs. Kids.” In less than a year’s time, he baked his way to three major wins, making more than 50 dishes to impress the judges. Smith’s successes in the food competitions came as no surprise, says Felicia Green, who served as a teacher and a principal at Isonville Elementary for 27 years before retiring in November 2016. “He always went the extra mile,” she says. “I remember he was always making things for us to put in the teachers lounge. And on TV, his personality is so genuine.” In the past year, Smith has also been a judge for Food Network’s “Best Baker in America.” He now has a show of his own in the works, which he hopes to make “very dessert heavy.” Smith’s earliest memories of cooking go back to a hot day on his family’s tobacco farm
14 | March/April 2018
Jason Smith was a school cafeteria manager in Kentucky before winning the Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship.”
BLACKBERRY-GRAPE PIE
in Laurel County, Kentucky. “I decided I didn’t want to be outside hoeing tobacco, so I went inside and asked my grandmother if I could stay and help her in the kitchen,” he recalls. On the menu that day? Fried chicken, fresh corn on the cob, potatoes and strawberry shortcake made with berries from the garden, along with biscuits left over from breakfast that morning. Smith says his grandmother saw something in him that day that others had dismissed. “She always told my mom about how much I loved to be in the kitchen, whether it was to wash the dishes or peel potatoes,” he says.
Cookbooks are one of Smith’s hobbies. He collects them and enjoys reading the stories behind the recipes. “I’ve taken so many recipes and switched things around to give the recipes new life,” he says. That’s a trademark of his as evidenced by recipes he shares.
FOOD EDITOR ANNE P. BRALY IS A NATIVE OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.
Dough for double-crust pie 2 pints fresh blackberries 2 cups green grapes 2 tablespoons cornstarch Zest from 1 small lemon 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger 1 1/2 cups sugar Heat oven to 350 F. Spray an 8-inch pie plate and place 1 sheet of dough in it, allowing edges to hang over. In a large mixing bowl, toss the berries and grapes in the cornstarch, lemon zest, ginger and sugar, stirring to coat. Pour into pie shell. Place other sheet of dough on top, and crimp the edges of the 2 sheets of dough together. Then, using a sharp knife, make 4 slits in middle of top to let steam escape. Brush with egg wash (one egg whisked with a little cold water) and place pie on cookie sheet. Tent pie with a sheet of aluminum foil and bake 30-45 minutes. Remove foil and bake a few more minutes to brown the top.
CARROT CAKE WITH COCONUT FROSTING
Lemon Chiffon Cake with Blueberry Mousse ;•;
LEMON CHIFFON CAKE WITH BLUEBERRY MOUSSE 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 unbeaten egg yolks 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold water 2 teaspoons lemon extract 2 teaspoons lemon zest 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sifted cake flour 3/4 cup white sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced 4 egg whites 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar Blueberry mousse: 2 cups heavy cream 1/4 cup powdered sugar 2 pints fresh blueberries 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup finely chopped or grated/ shredded white chocolate Heat oven to 325 F. Mix together oil, egg yolks, water, lemon extract and lemon zest. Sift dry ingredients together, then mix into the wet ingredients in a stand mixer until smooth. In another large bowl, combine egg whites and cream of tartar,
beat with a mixer until stiff peaks form. Pour batter over the beaten egg whites and gently fold with a figure-eight motion until all streaks disappear. Pour into a lined 13-by-18-inch sheet pan or rimmed cookie sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick stuck into middle comes out clean. Take out and let cool; cut into 1-inch squares. Meanwhile, make the mousse: Place the cream and sugar in a large bowl and whip into stiff peaks. Then fold in the vanilla and half the blueberries. To assemble: Place 1/3 of the cake cubes and then 1/3 of the mousse in a trifle bowl. Then sprinkle a few blueberries and some of the white chocolate over the top. Repeat layers until all the cake, mousse, berries and white chocolate are used. Make sure to save a few berries for the garnish. You can also garnish with fresh thyme sprigs on top. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight before serving. Serve with strawberry sorbet if desired.
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon allspice 1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar 3/4 cup vegetable oil 4 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3/4 cup tomato soup 1 cup buttermilk 1/2 cup grated fresh carrots
Coconut frosting: 4 tablespoons butter, divided 2 cups shredded coconut 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature 2 teaspoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar Heat oven to 350 F. Spray a 10-cup tube pan. In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice. Place brown sugar, oil and eggs in stand mixer and mix till fluffy; add the vanilla extract and tomato soup and mix in. Then add the dry mixture. Turn the mixer on low and slowly drizzle in the buttermilk until combined, and then stir in the carrots. Pour into pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool and frost with coconut frosting. Coconut frosting: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet and add the coconut; toast until lightly brown, then place on a paper towel to cool. Cream the rest of the butter and cream cheese till fluffy in a stand mixer; mix in milk and vanilla extract, then slowly add the powdered sugar, mixing well. Fold in 1 3/4 cups of the cooled coconut. Frost cake and sprinkle remainder of coconut on top. î‚š March/April 2018 | 15
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